Will Aldi ever open in Harrogate?

NADV 1501054AM1 Dreams store which has planning permission to become an Aldi.(1501054AM)

Published:17:00Updated:19:16Thursday 08 January 2015

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More than six months after receiving planning permission to open a store on Harrogate Retail Park, the German supermarket chain Aldi has shown no signs of opening.

Work has yet to start on the former Dreams Bed Store, and no open date has been announced.

The Advertiser has contacted Aldi several times since November, but has not had a response regarding an opening date.

Ward Coun Trevor Chapman (Lib Dem, New Park) said: “We rather expected that they would set up fairly quickly after they were given planning permission.

“There is certainly a keen interest in shops like Aldi and Lidl at the moment.”

When planning permission was granted in June 2014 a spokesperson for the budget supermarket said: “We are aiming to open the new store at the earliest opportunity and will ensure the community is kept updated once we have a confirmed opening date.”

The lack of information has led people to question if Aldi are still planning to open in Harrogate at all.

New Park Coun Matthew Webber (Lib Dem) said: “It is a case of I will believe it when I see it and we’ve never seen anything going on there.

“Perhaps they are waiting for Tesco and the Highways issues, a chicken or egg situation.”